Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for VR&E benefits, including retroactive payment for education expenses and outside of the United States services, were denied as he did not meet eligibility criteria due to lack of employment handicap and refusal of employment services.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding no evidence linking the current condition to service.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus, with the Board considering the Veteran's testimony and concluding that his tinnitus is related to noise exposure in service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and SUD). The peripheral neuropathy claims are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and GERD. The Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a relationship to service.,For his residual scar on the left lower extremity secondary to ischemic heart disease, the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7805.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) as he does not have a single 100% disability and is not permanently confined to his immediate premises due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea (OSA) as it is etiologically related to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records from his National Guard service. The claims will be reviewed with these additional records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, chondromalacia patellar with arthritis, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since March 20, 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for left knee, right knee, right hip, and back conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his military service, and the Board denied both claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for GERD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee degenerative joint disease have all been granted.

The Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus has already been assigned, and the Veteran does not have any manifestations that are not contemplated by this rating. For his bilateral hearing loss, the evidence shows Level I hearing in both ears, which corresponds to a noncompensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for deviated nasal septum, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the January 2019 rating decision is not eligible for review under VA’s modernized review system.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) rating was denied because the evidence did not show that he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the eligibility requirements for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from December 27, 2004 onward. The Board found that the evidence showed his disabilities prevented him from maintaining a suitable job as a truck driver due to his vertigo and hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) due to her withdrawal of those claims during a July 2019 hearing. The remaining issues have been remanded.